Who wrote the Bible? (Part 3)

This is our third visit to the YouTube documentary “Who wrote the Bible.” We are addressing some accusations made in its presentation. 

Accusation #7 The Bible wasn't just written. It was edited, revised, translated, debated, and censored over centuries.

Answer #7 This statement is simply not accurate. Even Bart Ehrman who is one of today most hostile critical scholars of the New Testament would not agree with that statement. It is here I would have previously appealed to the dishonesty of the producers of the documentary. However, as I have been corrected in the comments of the first series post, it was my assumption. I don't know what their intent was, I can't read their minds. I have been just as guilty of passing on mis' formation because I trusted the sources. I am reminded of what Reagan once said, “Trust but verify”.  

There are certainly textual variants in the Thousands of New Testament manuscripts we have, evidenced by the study of textual criticism. But edited, revised, translated, debated, and censored is hardly the conclusion of that area of study. If you can read the Greek manuscripts, you can discover this for yourself first hand, many of the old manuscripts have been photographed and digitally posted online for study. There are online tools available as well where you can access the manuscript and read the translation of it's content and compare it with our modern English versions of the Bible. Below, I have comprised such a comparison, as you can see, their accusation is far from the truth.  

Papyrus 52 Date: 100-125 A.D. Discovered: Fayum or Oxyrhynchus, Egypt Location: Manchester, England; John Rylands University Library.

P52 Jhn 18:31 Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is illegal for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die. Dated 100AD

[Jhn 18:31-32 ESV] 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. Dated 2001

P52 is translated from a fragment dated around the 1st century, the second is from John, as translated in our modern ESV translation some 2,000 years later. Hard to see any editing, revising, or censoring. 

P52 Jhn 18:33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Dated 100 A. D.

 [Jhn 18:33 ESV] 18:33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Dated 2001 

P52 Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Dated 100 A. D.

[Jhn 18:37 ESV] 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  Dated 2001

P52 Jhn 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. Dated 100 A. D.

 [Jhn 18:38 ESV] 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. Dated 2001

And since we have been talking about Paul's letters: P87 Philemon 13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, Date 140 A. D. 

[Phm 1:13-15 ESV] 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, Date 2001

P40 Romans 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Date 250 A. D. 

[Rom 1:24-27 ESV] 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Date 2001

P40 Romans 2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Date 250 A. D.

 [Rom 2:1-3 ESV] 1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? Date 2001 

P40 Romans 3:21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; 26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. Date 250 A. D.

[Rom 3:21-30 ESV] 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Date 2001

P40 Romans 4 What then will we say that Abraham, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5 But to him who works, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 6 apart from works, 7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” Date 250 A. D.

 [Rom 4:1-8 ESV] 1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Date 2001

What you actually find in these ancient manuscripts text above are variant readings and spellings, but in 2000 years of transmission the scripture has been faithfully transmitted. What you do not find is that “It was edited, revised, translated, debated, and censored over centuries.” There are a few verses in Mark known as the long ending of Mark that have been added that were not in the original autographs. Also, the story of the woman caught in adultery in John was most likely added by a scribe at a later day. It would have been accurate for the documentary to state, “There are some well known edits and revisions that were made to the text in the later manuscripts. However, textual scholarship accounts for these editions based on the information gathered from the older text”. If the documentary was attempting to provide accurate and truthful information, it failed miserably. 

Hope this was helpful,

David